Find Academic Supervisors

Emilia LimView profile

Assistant Professor

• Bioinformatics
• Cancer
• Aging
• +5 more

Dr. Emilia Lim is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of British Columbia's Faculty of Medicine , with an investigator role at the Edwin S.H. Leong Centre for Healthy Aging . She specializes in computational analysis of environmental exposures, particularly pollution, in age-related diseases like cancer. Education: BSc from University of Alberta (2009) PhD from University of British Columbia (2016) Postdoctoral training at Francis Crick Research Institute, University College London (2023) Her research integrates multi-omic approaches (genomics, transcriptomics, epigenomics) to investigate how environmental pollutants drive disease states in samples like cancer patients. Recent work focuses on lung cancer evolution , immune evasion , and epigenetic aging under pollution exposure, with applications in precision oncology and healthy aging initiatives across Canada. Publications highlight her expertise in cancer genomics , environmental toxicology , and computational biology , with key contributions to understanding air pollution-induced carcinogenesis (2023) and subclonal tumor dynamics (2020, 2023). Her lab develops tools like SPRINTER for single-cell cancer evolution analysis and explores haplotype-specific copy number in tumor heterogeneity ( Refphase , 2023).

Carl RichardsView profile

Professor

• Immunology
• Cytokine Biology
• Inflammation
• +4 more

Carl Richards is a Professor of Medicine at McMaster University and serves as Director of the McMaster Immunology Research Centre (MIRC) since 2014. He is one of 14 faculty members within MIRC, housed in state-of-the-art research facilities at the Michael DeGroote Centre for Learning and Discovery (MDCL). Dr. Richards earned his MSc (1984) and PhD (1987) in Medical Sciences from McMaster University, followed by postdoctoral training at Cambridge University as a Canadian Arthritis Society Scholar (1988-1990). He served two terms (2001-2009) as Associate Dean of Graduate Studies (Health Sciences), developing the MD/PhD program and BioMedical Engineering graduate programs. He was a member of McMaster Senate (2010-2016) and chaired the Senate Committee on Appointments (2013-15). His research focuses on immunology with special emphasis on cytokine biology, particularly Oncostatin M. His work spans inflammation, bone remodeling, pulmonary immunology, and macrophage biology. Analysis of his recent publications reveals consistent focus on Oncostatin M's role in inflammatory pathways, lung fibrosis, macrophage polarization, and cytokine networks, with increasing emphasis on molecular mechanisms and therapeutic targeting. Dr. Richards has served on national peer-reviewed granting agencies including CIHR operating grant panels as Scientific Officer, and as a grant panel member for the Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Arthritic Society, where he chairs the Strategic Operating Grant Panel. He is an active member of the Canadian Society of Immunology, International Cytokine Society, and Canadian Connective Tissue Society (where he served as President and is currently Past-President). He continues to instruct undergraduate and graduate courses in immunology, including Advanced Immunobiology, Discover Immunology Today, and Inquiry II: Cell Biology, demonstrating his ongoing commitment to education alongside his research activities.

Yasser Iturria MedinaView profile

Assistant Professor

• Neuroimaging
• Neuroinformatics
• Precision Medicine
• +6 more

Yasser Iturria Medina is an Assistant Professor at the Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI) , McGill University, within the Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery . He is an associate member of the Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health and the McConnell Brain Imaging Centre . Academic Rank: Assistant Professor Key Affiliations: MNI, Ludmer Centre, McConnell Brain Imaging Centre His educational background includes: Undergraduate: Nuclear Engineering (2004), Higher Institute for Nuclear Sciences and Technology, Cuba MSc: Neurophysics and Neuroengineering (2006), Cuban Neuroscience Center PhD: Neuroimaging and Neuroinformatics (2013), National Center for Scientific Research and Havana’s University of Medical Science His research focuses on neuroinformatics for precision medicine , particularly in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. His lab develops multiscale brain models integrating molecular, imaging, and cognitive data to characterize pathogenic mechanisms and identify personalized interventions. Key research areas include: Neurodegeneration modeling Neurovascular interactions in Alzheimer's Multi-omics integration for disease subtyping Neuroimaging biomarkers across neurodegenerative spectra Computational modeling of amyloid-beta and tau propagation The article analysis reveals his emphasis on: Alzheimer's disease mechanisms (45% of recent works) Multi-omics and transcriptomic modeling (30%) Neurovascular and white matter pathology (20%) Machine learning applications in neuroimaging (15%) Development of tools like NeuroPM-box and MVComp toolbox His lab has been instrumental in creating NeuroPM-box , a software platform for integrating molecular, neuroimaging, and clinical data to characterize neurodegenerative progression and heterogeneity. He has also contributed to CAPTURE ALS , a comprehensive analysis platform for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Connie LovejoyView profile

Professor

• Microbial biodiversity
• Arctic marine microbes
• Phytoplankton
• +7 more

Connie Lovejoy is a Professor in the Department of Biology at Université Laval, Quebec, Canada, specializing in Arctic marine microbial ecology. Her research focuses on microbial biodiversity in polar environments, particularly planktonic microorganisms including phytoplankton, protists, archaea, and bacteria that drive global carbon and mineral cycling. She leads multiple research projects examining Arctic microbial communities and their responses to climate change. Dr. Lovejoy received her B.Sc. from the University of California Davis (1973-1976), followed by a Ph.D. in Oceanography from Université Laval (1998-2002), and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Institut Ciènces del Mar, CSIC' CMIMA in Spain (2002-2004). Her research interests center on Arctic marine microbes and their ecological roles. She investigates questions regarding microbial abundance, genetic and metabolic diversity, and the factors determining growth and mortality in these organisms. Her work examines how these microorganisms function within changing Arctic ecosystems, particularly in relation to climate change impacts on microbial food webs and biogeochemical cycles. She has pioneered research on microbial communities in permafrost lakes, river-to-sea continua, and under-ice environments. Analysis of her recent publications (2022-2024) reveals consistent focus on Arctic microbial ecology across multiple dimensions: microbial community structure across environmental gradients, biogeochemical cycling in changing environments, evolutionary adaptations of polar microorganisms, and the use of molecular techniques to understand microbial diversity. Her work spans freshwater, brackish, and marine systems, with particular attention to the impacts of climate change on microbial communities and their ecosystem functions. Dr. Lovejoy has secured significant research funding through NSERC and ArcticNet grants, leading projects on Arctic microbial biodiversity, biogeography, and environmental selection. She has been instrumental in major research initiatives including the Canada First Research Excellence Fund Sentinel North project focusing on sentinel microbiomes for Arctic ecosystem health. Her laboratory at Université Laval collaborates extensively with international research teams across Canada, the United States, Europe, and participates in major Arctic research networks. She works closely with the Takuvik research unit, a joint Canada-France research laboratory focusing on Arctic studies.

• Tissue Engineering
• Regenerative Medicine
• Stem Cell Biology
• +5 more

Adetola B. Adesida serves as a full Professor in the Department of Surgery within the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry at the University of Alberta . His laboratory focuses on developing autologous cell-based tissue engineering strategies for cartilage and meniscus repair, leveraging interdisciplinary collaborations between chemists, biologists, clinicians, and material scientists. PhD in Pharmacy, Victoria University of Manchester (1999) Postdoctoral Research, Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research Dual Fellowship, Harvard University/Massachusetts General Hospital (2006) Marie-Curie Fellowship, European Commission (2007) Dr. Adesida's research centers on stem cell biology and tissue engineering for musculoskeletal regeneration, with emphasis on: Meniscus and articular cartilage repair mechanisms Stem cell-chondrocyte interactions in 3D microenvironments Bioreactor conditioning (hypoxia, dynamic compression) Sex-specific responses in knee osteoarthritis models Space-related microgravity effects on joint tissues His work bridges fundamental mechanobiology with clinical translation through industry partnerships like CellCoTec. Recent publications demonstrate a strong trend toward 3D bioprinting of nasal and meniscal tissues, sex-dimorphic responses in osteoarthritis, and space medicine applications . Key themes include bioink development, molecular characterization of fibrochondrocytes, and prevention of post-traumatic joint degeneration through regenerative strategies. CIHR Research Award (2013) Harvard University/Massachusetts General Hospital Fellowship (2006) European Commission Marie-Curie Fellowship (2007) Dr. Adesida leads the Orthopaedic Tissue Engineering Laboratory , directing multiple CIHR-funded projects on meniscus regeneration using mesenchymal stem cells. His research integrates advanced bioreactor systems for mechano-hypoxia conditioning and collaborates with aerospace initiatives through Canadian Space Agency partnerships. Current work explores simulated microgravity effects on human meniscus models and develops clinically applicable matrices incorporating bioactive molecules for cartilage formation.

Oraly Sanchez FerrasView profile

Associate Professor

• Developmental Genetics
• Urogenital System Diseases
• Kidney Development
• +8 more

Oraly Sanchez Ferras is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Sherbrooke with secondary affiliation in the Department of Human Genetics at McGill University. Her research program investigates genetic mechanisms underlying kidney and urogenital system development and disease. Education: M.Sc. in Biochemistry (Immunology), University of Havana, 2009 Ph.D. in Biochemistry (Molecular Biology), Université du Québec à Montréal, 2015 Postdoctoral Fellow, Developmental Genetics of the Urogenital System, Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, 2015-2021 Research Interests: Dr. Sanchez Ferras explores transcriptional control of cell specification during renal development, collective cell migration, congenital kidney/urinary tract anomalies (CAKUT), and cancer invasion. Her lab integrates genetically modified mouse models with single-cell genomics, spatial transcriptomics, and 3D embryo imaging to dissect genetic networks governing tissue formation and disease pathogenesis. Laboratory: The Sanchez-Ferras Laboratory studies how intermediate mesoderm-derived cells transform through pronephros, mesonephros, and metanephros stages to form adult kidneys, with emphasis on cellular communication, collective migration, and apoptosis mechanisms disrupted in CAKUT and cancer. Advising and Grants: Source material provides no details regarding student supervision, research grants, or funding sources.

• Computational Biology
• Bioinformatics
• RNA Bioinformatics
• +4 more

Hosna Jabbari serves as Associate Professor in Biomedical Engineering and cross-appointed in Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Alberta's Faculty of Engineering, directing the Computational Biology Research and Analytics Laboratory (COBRA Lab) focused on RNA-centric diagnostics and therapeutics development. Education: BSc in Computer Science, University of Victoria MSc in Computer Science - Bioinformatics, University of British Columbia PhD in Computer Science - Bioinformatics, University of British Columbia Research Focus: Dr. Jabbari pioneers RNA structure-function characterization through computational biology to decode disease mechanisms. Her work integrates transcriptomics , RNA-RNA/protein interaction analysis , and aging research with advanced machine learning and quantum computing approaches, emphasizing explainable AI for medical applications in RNA therapy development. Publication Trends: Recent work (2018-2024) demonstrates sustained innovation in RNA pseudoknot prediction algorithms applied to viral pathogenesis (notably SARS-CoV-2) and therapeutic design, with increasing integration of quantum computing and AI methodologies reflecting her interdisciplinary trajectory in computational genomics. Advising & Grants: Actively recruiting undergraduate researchers for funded projects including non-DNA life research, AI-driven vaccine development (comparative analysis and self-amplifying RNA platforms), and aging studies. She instructs BME 415/615 (Bioinformatics Algorithms) and MED 621 (Grant Writing), providing hands-on research training and grant preparation mentorship. Laboratory: As COBRA Lab Director, she leads a globally connected research network advancing RNA bioinformatics through algorithm development, fostering collaborations across virology, aging research, and therapeutic design domains.

Ayesha AliView profile

Professor

• Graphical Markov models
• Pollination networks
• Multivariate statistics
• +7 more

Ayesha Ali is a Professor of Statistics and Director of the Master of Data Science program at the University of Guelph. She holds a PhD in Statistics from the University of Washington (2002) and has expertise in statistical methods for complex high-dimensional systems, including ecological networks, causal inference, and bioinformatics. Her research integrates graphical Markov models, machine learning, and statistical computing to address challenges in plant-pollinator networks, livestock genetics, and disease risk modeling. Education: B.Sc. Honours in Statistics and Actuarial Science, University of Western Ontario (1996) M.Sc. in Statistics, University of Toronto (1998) Ph.D. in Statistics, University of Washington (2002) Research Interests: Graphical Markov models and ecological networks Causal inference and longitudinal data analysis Machine learning and high-dimensional predictive modeling Statistical methods for livestock genetics and animal health Computational statistics and bioinformatics Articles Trends: Her recent work spans interdisciplinary applications, including veterinary oncology biomarker discovery, remote sensing for agricultural suitability, and pipeline development for cross-species transcriptomics. She emphasizes graphical structure exploitation in regression and predictive modeling, with contributions to both theoretical and applied statistical methodologies. Awards: Canadian Journal of Statistics Award (2020) for groundbreaking work on doubly sparse regression NSERC Discovery Grant (2018) NSERC Collaborative Research and Development Grant (2015) Advising & Grants: She has supervised numerous graduate and undergraduate students on projects ranging from plant-pollinator network analysis to bioinformatics. Her grants include NSERC-funded research on milk fatty acid genetics and statistical methods for clustered data. Labs/Teams: Involved in the Bioinformatics program at the University of Guelph, contributing to interdisciplinary research collaborations in ecology and animal science.

Benoit LabontéView profile

Associate Professor

• Molecular Neurobiology of Mood Disorders
• Sex Differences in Depression
• Molecular Mechanisms of Stress Responses
• +4 more

Benoit Labonté is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience at the Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval. He holds the Research Chair in partnership with Sentinel North for Molecular Neurobiology of Mood Disorders and is a researcher at the CERVO Brain Research Centre. Previously, he was a Pfizer–Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Québec research chair (2016-2021). Dr. Labonté's research focuses on understanding the molecular basis of depression and mood disorders with a specific emphasis on sex differences. His groundbreaking work has demonstrated that depression manifests differently at the molecular level in men and women, challenging the notion of depression as a single disease. He employs multidisciplinary approaches including: Mouse models of stress (chronic variable stress, chronic social defeat, social isolation) Analysis of human post-mortem brain and blood samples Viral approaches for neural circuit mapping (optogenetics, DREADDs) Genome-wide sequencing methods (RNAseq, ChIPseq) Cell-specific molecular analyses (FACS, ribotag) His research has three primary objectives: Determining the prefrontal cortex (PFC) connectome and evaluating sex-specific neuronal contributions to stress responses Characterizing transcriptional organization of gene networks across neuronal populations projecting to the PFC Identifying epigenetic signatures associated with transcriptional reorganization following chronic stress Dr. Labonté's publication record shows consistent high-impact research across neuroscience disciplines, with recent publications demonstrating sophisticated integration of molecular, cellular, and behavioral approaches to understand sex differences in depression. His work bridges basic science with clinical applications, aiming to develop more targeted therapeutic approaches. His research has been recognized with prestigious appointments including: Sentinel North Partnership Research Chair in Molecular Neurobiology of Mood Disorders (2019-present) Pfizer–Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Québec research chair (2016-2021) Dr. Labonté leads a research team at the CERVO Brain Research Centre focusing on molecular neurobiology of mood disorders. His laboratory employs cutting-edge techniques to investigate sex-specific molecular mechanisms underlying depression, with the ultimate goal of developing more effective treatments that account for fundamental biological differences between men and women suffering from mood disorders.

Scott NapperView profile

Professor

• Vaccine Development
• Prion Diseases
• Kinome Analysis
• +3 more

Dr. Scott Napper is a Professor in the Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology & Immunology at the University of Saskatchewan, with a concurrent appointment as Senior Scientist at VIDO-Intervac. His work bridges structural biochemistry and immunology to address challenges in protein misfolding diseases, vaccine development, and host-pathogen signaling. Ph.D., Department of Biochemistry, 1999, University of Saskatchewan B.Sc. Honours, Department of Biochemistry, 1994, University of Saskatchewan Dr. Napper's research focuses on: Vaccine development for prion diseases and proteinopathies Kinome analysis for infectious disease mechanisms Peptide array technology for high-throughput signaling studies Science education outreach to secondary and undergraduate students Recent publications highlight his work in: Prion disease immunization strategies Host kinome responses to prebiotics Epitope immunogenicity prediction Comparative stress response analysis in livestock Scientific recognition includes: Three-time recipient of University of Saskatchewan Teaching Excellence Award His research program integrates computational approaches with experimental validation to identify therapeutic targets in: Infectious diseases of humans and animals Cancer signaling pathways Protein misfolding disorders Food contaminant toxicity

Qian LiuView profile

Assistant Professor

• Machine Learning
• Deep Learning
• Applied Statistics
• +5 more

Dr. Qian Liu is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Applied Computer Science at the University of Winnipeg . She holds a PhD in Individual Interdisciplinary Studies, integrating Computer Science, Statistics, and Medical Genetics. Her research focuses on advanced data science techniques for healthcare and material science, including multi-modal data integration and interpretable AI. Education : 2023: Postdoc, Western University, Canada 2023: PhD, University of Manitoba, Canada 2019: MSc, University of Manitoba, Canada Research Interests : Machine learning, deep learning, bioinformatics, computational biology, medical imaging, and their applications in healthcare and material informatics. Her lab develops tools for genomic integration, radiogenomics, and AI-driven biomarker discovery. Recent Contributions : Her work spans AI in nanomaterial classification, breast cancer biomarker discovery, and emotion recognition. Articles highlight innovations in graph neural networks, diffusion models, and interpretable deep learning. Awards : 2024 University of Manitoba Distinguished Dissertation Award 2019 Best Oral Paper at IEEE Bioinformatics Conference Grants : NSERC 2024 Discovery Grant (Principal Investigator) CIHR 2023 Project Grant (Co-Applicant) Labs/Teams : Active in interdisciplinary collaborations across computer science, statistics, and biomedical domains. Lab members include postdocs, PhD/MS students, and undergraduate researchers.

Rosemary C. BagotView profile

Associate Professor

• Behavioural Neuroscience
• Neuroscience
• Depression
• +3 more

Rosemary C. Bagot is an Associate Professor and Canada Research Chair in Behavioural Neurogenomics (Tier II) at McGill University's Department of Psychology. Her research focuses on understanding the neural mechanisms underlying stress susceptibility and resilience in depression using multidisciplinary approaches. She employs techniques such as optogenetics, in vivo calcium imaging, and next-generation sequencing in rodent models to dissect brain circuit dysfunction. Her work integrates behavioral neuroscience with genomics to identify molecular and circuit-level markers of depression vulnerability. Key contributions include uncovering predictive signatures of stress susceptibility in the nucleus accumbens and delineating gene networks mediating resilience. The Bagot Lab at McGill combines electrophysiology, chemogenetics, and advanced imaging to advance translational insights into mood disorders. Awards: Canada Research Chair (CRC) Tier II (Behavioural Neurogenomics) Labs: Bagot Lab (McGill University) Research Themes: Brain plasticity, epigenetic programming, antidepressant mechanisms Dr. Bagot's research bridges basic neuroscience with clinical applications, emphasizing the development of biomarkers and novel therapeutic targets for depression.

• Genome Evolution
• Comparative Genomics
• Organelle Evolution
• +3 more

Andrew J. Roger is a Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Dalhousie University, Faculty of Medicine. His primary roles include academic research and leadership as the Founding Director of the Institute for Comparative Genomics (ICG) and Canada Research Chair in Comparative Genomics. He has been a department member since 2001. Education: PhD in Biochemistry from Dalhousie University Affiliations: Dalhousie University, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Institute for Comparative Genomics (ICG) His research focuses on genome evolution, particularly in eukaryotic protists. Key interests include: Phylogenomics of eukaryotic super-kingdoms like Excavata Comparative genomics of anaerobic protists and lateral gene transfer (LGT) Evolution of mitochondria, hydrogenosomes, and mitosomes Modeling molecular evolution with computational tools Recent publications (2021–2023) highlight studies on protist organelle evolution, genomic adaptation mechanisms, and novel phylogenetic methods. His lab includes graduate students and postdocs actively researching these areas. He collaborates extensively with statisticians and computational biologists. Lab Members: Tugba Nur Atalay, Min Cho, Marlena Dlutek, Katherine Dunn, Ryo Harada, Joran Martijn, Charley McCarthy, Greg Seaton, Jason Shao, Kelsey Williamson, and others.

• Vaccinology
• Immunotherapy
• Adjuvant Development
• +4 more

Dr. George Mutwiri is an Executive Director and Professor at the School of Public Health, University of Saskatchewan. His research focuses on vaccine development, adjuvant mechanisms, mucosal immunology, and innate immune responses in veterinary and human health contexts. He teaches advanced courses like PUBH 806.3 Public Health Biology and VACC 801.3 Vaccinology & Immunotherapeutics. Key research areas include: Development of novel vaccine adjuvants (e.g., PCEP) Immunobiology of Toll-like receptors (TLR9) Vaccine efficacy enhancement via formulation and delivery innovations Innate immune regulation in porcine intestines Recent grants (2014–2024) include NSERC Discovery grants totaling over $315,000 and CIHR funding for Indigenous mentorship programs. His work has led to groundbreaking insights into Zika virus impacts in porcine models and mechanisms of B-cell regulation in ruminants. Collaborative efforts span virology, immunogenetics, and translational vaccinology. Advising and grants highlight interdisciplinary collaboration, with significant contributions to training programs fostering Indigenous academic leadership. His research bridges basic science and clinical applications, addressing critical global health challenges in infectious disease prevention.

Martin ReaneyView profile

Professor

• Food Science
• Bioengineering
• Lipid Chemistry
• +3 more

Martin Reaney is a Professor and Ministry of Agriculture Strategic Research Program (SRP) Chair in Lipid Quality and Utilization at the University of Saskatchewan's Department of Food and Bioproduct Sciences, within the College of Agriculture and Bioresources. His research focuses on lipid chemistry, sustainable agriculture, and food technology, particularly in biodiesel production, flaxseed bioactives, and novel food products. Key research interests include optimizing lipid quality through refining techniques (e.g., electrostatic field processing, enzymatic degumming), developing functional food ingredients (e.g., aquafaba-based emulsifiers, flaxseed-derived peptides), and enhancing biofuel production. His work bridges agricultural innovation with industrial applications, emphasizing sustainability and nutritional value. Key Projects: Biodiesel optimization, flaxseed lignan extraction, cyanogenic glycoside removal in flaxseed through fermentation, and electrostatic refining of crude oils. Lab/Affiliations: SRP Chair in Lipid Quality & Utilization, affiliated with the University of Saskatchewan's Ministry of Agriculture initiatives. Contact: martin.reaney@usask.ca | 6E02 Agriculture Building. Publications span lipid processing, food safety, and nutraceutical development, with a focus on interdisciplinary approaches to address global food and energy challenges.